Caminos UPM leads the leap to international joint degrees.
Caminos UPM — the School of Civil Engineering at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid — is driving a pioneering model in Europe with joint degree programs that integrate teaching, mobility, and academic recognition. A transformation that redefines engineering education.
UPM has taken a decisive step in the transformation of European higher education. As coordinator of the EELISA alliance (European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance) — a network of 10 higher education institutions from 8 European countries that seeks to create a common model of European engineer combining technical excellence with social commitment — UPM has endorsed a joint declaration that positions joint degrees — degrees shared between several universities — as one of the main tools for the future of the university system.
This change does not start from scratch. As Vicente Alcaraz, Deputy Director of International Relations, Development Cooperation, and Business at Caminos UPM, explains, our school already has experience with consolidated international programs: “There are some programs that are very interesting for our students, which are the double degrees. A student enrolls in our master’s program and then goes to another institution with which we have a signed agreement to complete part of their studies there, and when they finish the planned itinerary, they obtain two degrees. It’s Master in Civil Engineering from Caminos UPM, for example, and Master in Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. It’s very interesting because, in addition to the international experience that the graduate gains, they have two degrees, something very valuable for their professional future.”
From double degrees to European joint degrees
The new model promoted by the European Union goes one step further. Compared to double degrees, joint degrees involve real integration between universities. “With sound judgment, the European Union is committing to joint degrees: the principle is the same, students complete part of their studies at one university and part at another, but instead of having two degrees, they have a single degree awarded simultaneously by both universities,” Alcaraz explains. These programs allow students to combine academic resources, international experiences, and official recognition in several countries through a single diploma.
The development of these degrees is not an isolated initiative; rather, it is part of the work of the EELISA alliance, coordinated by UPM. “We are working on one of these joint degrees, which is something truly novel, with the Ecole nationale des ponts et chaussées, one of the oldest civil engineering schools in the world (our founder, Agustín de Betancourt, studied there and in 1803 founded the School of Civil Engineering), and also with Istanbul Technical University,” Alcaraz emphasizes. “The three institutions working on this joint degree are all part of EELISA. This degree would be a major step in solidifying that alliance.” The historical reference is significant: the connection between Caminos UPM and the Ecole nationale des ponts et chaussées goes back to the very origin of Spanish civil engineering, reinforcing the symbolism of this project.
International training and global profile
Beyond the academic structure, the impact on students is one of the main arguments in favor of the model. Alcaraz says: “From an educational standpoint, it gives the student the opportunity to study at two high-level universities. They also learn another language and interact with a more diverse student body than that of purely national degree programs. This catapults them toward an international career.” In a context marked by the globalization of knowledge and international competition, these types of experiences become a key differentiating value.
One of the most innovative and demanding aspects of joint degrees is the level of coordination they require between institutions, as Alcaraz aptly emphasizes: “This project forces us to work in a different way, because beyond the administrative aspects, from an operational standpoint we must interact very intensively with other universities, at the faculty level and in information exchange processes. Our IT systems must be capable of interacting with those of the other universities. The same applies to evaluation and disciplinary regulations. It forces us to integrate effectively, not in a cosmetic way.” This type of integration goes beyond traditional mobility and proposes a model in which universities function as an interconnected network.
The development of these programs also represents a milestone within the university’s own strategy. “The future of European degrees will pass through here,” Alcaraz affirms. “Soon, national degrees like the ones we have today will coexist with degrees of this kind. It is important for Caminos UPM because it is a first for us. And we are doing it at the undergraduate level and not only at the master’s level — this is also very novel.”
The push for joint degrees has the backing of the Governing Council of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, the university’s highest body, responsible for defining strategic lines in teaching, research, and resources. The recent declaration signed by the ten EELISA institutions reinforces this commitment and positions joint degrees as key tools for addressing global challenges in areas such as sustainability, innovation, and democratic values.
Without a doubt, the advancement of joint degrees marks a structural change in the European university model. In contrast to isolated national systems, a network of institutions capable of sharing programs, resources, and objectives is emerging. For Caminos UPM, this process not only strengthens its international position but also redefines its role in training engineers in Europe. And, as Vicente Alcaraz summarizes, the path is already laid out: the future of degrees, inevitably, passes through here.